Live on Sky Sports 1: Sat 17.30: A narrow success for Chelsea (5/4, bet365) heads our selections in the Premier League this week.
Chelsea boss Jose Mourinho will be pleased with how his team have gone about their business so far, the Blues having complemented a couple of home victories with a respectable point at champions Manchester United and bookies expect the West London outfit to continue their fine start by collecting all three points at Everton.
Mourinho’s charges are bet365’s 5/4 favourites ahead of the Goodison Park contest while the unbeaten but also winless Toffees are 13/5 via Ladbrokes to register their first victory and it’s 12/5 with William Hill for them to grab a share of the spoils.
As Roberto Martinez’s troops have drawn all of three of their fixtures, that stalemate is perhaps a touch high and indeed a third consecutive goalless encounter for the hosts isn’t without appeal at 10/1 (Skybet), especially as that too was the result when Chelsea visited Old Trafford last time out.
Certainly the hosts appear a touch shot-shy at present, a situation exacerbated by the loss of Marouane Fellaini as well as the fact that Romelu Lukaku is ineligible against his parent club and subsequently a match tally of fewer than 2.5 goals looks a solid bet at 4/5 with Stan James.
The Toffees’ scoring struggles however, could prove to be their undoing because it’s difficult to see them keeping Chelsea out at the other end. Mourinho’s side stand out at 15/2 via Ladbrokes to grab the only goal then and Samuel Eto’o (6/1, Winner.com) will be well backed to break the deadlock if he makes his debut.
On Monday, Brendan Rodgers heads back to the Liberty Stadium to face former club Swansea and it’s just 6/5 with bet365 for it to be a happy return for the Liverpool boss, whose current side are top of the pile having carded three straight victories.
Stan James rate the Swans at 12/5 to halt the Reds’ momentum but psychologically the visitors have the edge given their flying start and the fact that they hammered the hosts 5-0 in the pair’s last meeting so it’s hard to oppose the buoyant Reds, who are 9/1 (BetVictor) to shade it 2-1.
Meanwhile, in attack, in-form Daniel Sturridge missed both of England’s World Cup qualifiers but is hopeful of being fit enough to feature in this match and he’s 11/2 at bet365 to net first.
Manchester City look set to register a straightforward triumph, William Hill rating them at 4/6 to overcome Stoke – managed by former City boss Mark Hughes – and BetVictor chalking Manuel Pellegrini’s men up at 5/2 to shade it by one at the Britannia Stadium.
North London pair Arsenal (8/11, Stan James) and Tottenham (4/9, BetVictor) are easy additions to the coupon as they come up against Sunderland and Norwich respectively and the duo double up at 6/4 with William Hill. Olivier Giroud, at 5/1 via bet365 can set the Gunners on their way at the Stadium of Light. Meanwhile, Paddy Power’s 10/11 favourites Southampton get the nod in Sunday’s televised clash against West Ham.
Elsewhere, Aston Villa, at 5/4 via William Hill, should see off Newcastle, Skybet quote promoted duo Hull and Cardiff at 9/4 to be inseparable at the KC Stadium and BetVictor’s 5/2 for it to be inconclusive is the best bet as Fulham entertain West Brom.
Recommended Bets:
Arsenal and Tottenham double – 6/4 (William Hill)
Olivier Giroud to score first – 5/1 (bet365)
Chelsea to beat Everton 1-0 – 15/2 (Ladbrokes)
Aston Villa and Man City double – 5/2 (Coral)
Compare all Premier League odds and bet at the best price.
